6 Figure Creative

Brian Hood
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Apr 9, 2024 • 31min

#303: How To Set Yourself Apart From The Other 500,000,000 Freelancers In The World | Part 4

In the final episode of this 4-part series, we're diving into one of the most powerful but often misunderstood methods of standing out from the crowd.I saved the best for last.This has been the "secret sauce" behind my all of my successful businesses, from freelancing, to Airbnb, to multiple software companies, and even podcasting.Without this last piece of the puzzle, nothing I've tried would have worked, and I'd likely still be working at Gamestop for minimum wage (missing out on millions of $ in the process)If you're ready to become absolutely indispensable to your clients, listen to this week's episode to the 6 Figure Creative Podcast.In this episode you’ll discover: The importance of specialization Why niches work better than others Conversion-focused web design as a differentiation method Niching down vs. niching out The advantages of pushing bad leads away For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/303
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7 snips
Apr 2, 2024 • 24min

#302: How To Set Yourself Apart From The Other 500,000,000 Freelancers In The World | Part 3

Learn how to set yourself apart from the competition in the freelancing world by focusing on adding value, making your stand-out factors visible, and keeping it simple. Discover the power of social proof in building trust and credibility with potential clients through testimonials and endorsements. Differentiation and building credibility are essential in a crowded freelancing market to attract clients and stand out.
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10 snips
Mar 26, 2024 • 26min

#301: How To Set Yourself Apart From The Other 500,000,000 Freelancers In The World | Part 2

Learn how to set yourself apart from the 500 million freelancers in the world with 5 'Brute Force Differentiators'. Discover why lowering your price won't help, the importance of standing out to close deals, and why gear is not a good differentiator. Focus on building a strong network and find out why being the best doesn't always matter.
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7 snips
Mar 19, 2024 • 21min

#300: How To Set Yourself Apart From The Other 500,000,000 Freelancers In The World | Part 1

Learn how to stand out among 500,000,000 freelancers by differentiating yourself. Discover why low pricing hurts creatives, the dangers of appealing to everyone, and how to maintain creativity while running a business. Differentiation is key to success in freelancing, allowing you to attract ideal clients and charge premium rates.
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Mar 12, 2024 • 28min

#299: Why You Should Ask Your Clients For Feedback After Every Single Project | The Infinite Clients Series

If you're an obsessive learner (or ADHD) like me, there's probably a long list of new things you've learned and implemented as a freelancer over the past year.Maybe you've set up that rock-solid client contract, nailed down an onboarding process that's smooth as butter, or started following those essential tips for staying top-of-mind with clients without driving them or yourself crazy.Or perhaps you've been working on your project management skills to keep all your ducks in a row or taken a page out of Michael Janda's playbook to become someone people just can't help but like.And let's not forget about setting those boundaries to keep things professional and sane.But here's the kicker: doing all these things isn't the end of the road. It's not about ticking boxes and moving on. The real magic happens when you stop and ask yourself... "Is all this stuff actually making a difference to my clients? "Am I getting better at this?" That's what keeps the wheel turning and what makes you better month after month, year after year.Now, when most freelancers wrap up a project, it's usually a quick "thanks and goodbye" deal. Maybe you're a bit more proactive and ask for a referral, but I bet asking for feedback isn't high on your list.It might be because you don't know you should, or maybe you're just scared of what your clients might say. And hey, that's totally understandable.But here's the problem: not asking for feedback is a missed opportunity.Sure, "asking clients for feedback" doesn't sound as flashy as "marketing" or "client acquisition," but by the time we're done here, you'll see it in a new light.Feedback can be your secret weapon. It's not just about finding out what you're doing right or wrong; it's about showing your clients that you care, and that you're committed to being the best you can be.So, even though it might seem scary or unexciting, collecting and using feedback can reshape how everything in your business is done.In this week's episode, I give you specific questions to ask your clients at the end of every single project. THIS will forever change how you spot weak points and make improvements on the most important things.In this episode you’ll discover: Why asking for feedback from clients is so important How clients' wounds can fester Using feedback to continuously improve your business Building your feedback flywheel The two main types of businesses How to collect your data Share your feedback with us! For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/299
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Mar 5, 2024 • 36min

#298: 6 Client Boundaries to Keep You Healthy, Happy, Stress-free, and Profitable | The Infinite Clients Series

So you made it to $100,000+ per year... Congrats. Too bad you made so many sacrifices that you're constantly stressed out, you're missing out on time with friends and family, and you resent your business.The irony is that you became a freelancer because you hated your day job and you wanted to work for yourself. Now, you feel like you have 50 "little bosses", and you hate your life a little bit more with each new client you gain.If this sounds like you, it may be time to put boundaries into place to get to that sweet spot between hitting your income goals while also enjoying your life and business.In this week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast, I give you 6 different boundaries you should have with your clients so you can actually stay happy, healthy, and profitable.In this episode you’ll discover: Maintaining mental and physical health while you're running a business How to handle revision requests without losing your mind Eliminating one of the most painful freelance experiences How to keep your clients from taking advantage of your kindness Boundaries for corporate/agency clients Using boundaries to avoid scope creep Avoiding stress with payment issues How to learn more about building your client acquisition machine For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/298
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Feb 27, 2024 • 34min

#297: The Best Method For Avoiding "Revision Hell" For The Rest Of Your Life | The Infinite Clients Series

You have had one of those projects that went south fast? You're cruising along, and then boom, you hit the revisions stage, and it's like hitting a brick wall.Emotions run high, lists of changes start flying in, and what was supposed to be a quick fix turns into a never-ending nightmare. If you've been freelancing for a while, then I'm sure you've been there.This is the make-or-break moment in your quest for repeat clients and referrals. If the revisions process feels like a battleground, you're in trouble. It's supposed to be about making things better, but instead, it can end up being the thing that drives you and your client apart (sometimes forever).But here's the good news... It doesn't have to be this way. The revisions stage can actually be a chance to show your clients that you're 100% on their side and that you have their best interest in mind.Instead of dreading feedback, see it as a way to make the project even better. It's about getting organized, setting clear expectations, and most importantly, keeping your cool.So, how do you go from Revisions Hell to Revisions Nirvana? That's the topic of this week's episode of the 6 Figure Creative Podcast.In this episode you’ll discover: Making a flawless revisions process to keep your clients happy and create a viral business The rules of efficient, effective revisions How to politely stay firm on your project scope Creating client guidelines Why freelancers drop the ball Refining your processes once you have data For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/297
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Feb 20, 2024 • 53min

#296: How Michael Janda Built A $30,000,000 Design Agency From One Super Power | The Infinite Clients Series

Being likable is a super power for freelancers, and here's why...This business is all about making a great first impression, keeping your clients coming back for more, and getting them to tell their friends about you.When you meet a new client, hitting it off right away can make a huge difference. Just like when you meet anyone new and instantly click — you just want to hang out more.For freelancers, being more likable means clients are more likely to pick you over someone else, and stick around AND refer more work your way.See why this matters?Here's what sucks...Some people are just bad at being likable. If that's the case, what can you do? To help us all out with this, I brought back one of the most likable people I've ever had on the show: Michael Janda.Michael joined us back on episode 207 and walked us through how brought in 6 figures his first year freelancing, and went on to bring in over $30,000,000 from his design agency before he ultimately sold it.Those numbers show proof that he knows his stuff, and this episode, he'll walk us through what we can do to become the person people WANT to be around (and hire).No matter who you are, there is something you need to hear in my conversion with Michael Janda.In this episode you’ll discover: Why relationships are so important to building your business Building your reputation vs. building relationships How he landed a $500,000 client just by being nice Getting out of your shell when interacting with people What skills to work on to grow your business Asking people about themselves to win them over Why playing games with your business is bad Creating goodwill with your clients For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/296
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25 snips
Feb 13, 2024 • 32min

#295: How To Create An "External Brain" That Helps You Finish Projects On Time Every Time | The Infinite Clients Series

Learn how to avoid project delays by using an 'external brain' to manage tasks. Understand the benefits of project management and the importance of estimating time and pricing. Discover the concept of a project grid and explore a modular approach to project management. Find out the benefits of using an 'external brain' and becoming a 'just in time' entrepreneur.
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4 snips
Feb 6, 2024 • 35min

#294: The 6 BARE MINIMUM Rules For Solid Client Communication | The Infinite Client Series

Pretty much all of us got into this "trading creativity for $$$" thing because we absolutely love what we do. It's easy to forget that there's more to the game than just passion + being good at your craft.The whole "client communication" thing usually isn't the most thrilling part of your day. It's like, we get so caught up in the excitement of creating and learning new things in our field that we kind of let the whole talking-to-clients thing slide.It's not because we want to be bad at it, and it's not because we're terrible people... But because we're just not wired that way, especially if your background is anything like mine.Before freelancing, here was my entire job history: A janitor at a water park Flipping burgers at Burger King Selling video games at GameStop Corporate world? Never heard of her.Team meetings and office politics? Nope.So when it comes to wearing the "professional communicator hat", it's something I had to learn the hard way.I had no clear boundaries, no set times for chats, no structure. It was chaos.Messages got lost, things got forgotten, and before I knew it, I was that flaky freelancer nobody wanted to deal with. If that's anything like you, it becomes a stressful, awful mess FAST....not just for you but for your clients too.Think about it from their side. They've just dropped thousands of dollars on hiring you, pumped to see what you'll create together.But if they're left in the dark, not knowing when they'll hear from you or what's happening, that excitement turns to anxiety, then frustration, and maybe even anger. No one wants to work in that kind of vibe.Bottom line... If you want to keep doing what you love (and get paid for it without losing your mind), you've got to get a handle on the whole communication thing.To help with this, I've got 6 rules for client communication for you to follow. Think of this as the bare minimum any good freelancer should be doing.It's about setting clear rules for when and how you'll talk to your clients, making sure everyone's on the same page, and keeping things running smoothly.It's about making your clients feel taken care of and avoiding that whole excitement > anxiety > anger cycle that can lead to horrible projects (and no referrals).Check out the episode, and IMPLEMENT ASAP.In this episode you’ll discover: How we can learn the skills we need to have healthy, effective communication with clients Six rules to keep your clients happy (and yourself sane) Internal business communication tools vs. external communication tools Why clients want plain, simple English Keeping your clients up to date Using feedback loops to make sure your clients are happy, without overworking Turning a client's outlook around by going the extra mile Communicating expectations to leads and clients Conflict resolution techniques to use with your clients For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/294

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